Bristol Council Says Sorry ‘Unreservedly’ to Two Women’s Rights Campaigners It Banned, and Pays Some of Their Legal Costs

News | By Matt, Editor

Bristol City Council has apologised “unreservedly” to two gender-critical campaigners it banned from its chamber, withdrawn its allegations against them and agreed to pay 70% of their legal costs, according to their solicitors. (BBC News, 30 October 2026; Local Government Lawyer, 30 October 2026)

Phoebe Beedell and Wendy Stephenson, of the Women of Wessex group, were excluded from public meetings for six months after the council said their conduct had left some councillors feeling “intimidated”. They took the council to court, and it has now settled. (BBC News, 30 October 2026)

Almost a year on, the council admits it should have investigated first, told the women what they were accused of and given them a chance to reply. It did none of that before banning them.

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Key facts

• The allegation: at a full council meeting on 4 November 2025, the women were accused of “confronting two councillors in the reception area in a way that they found intimidating”. (BBC)
• Their account: Dr Beedell said she asked one councillor a question about the Supreme Court ruling that the “concept of sex is binary”. “I would say that that conversation lasted less than one minute… and then they turned away,” she said. She says Ms Stephenson “was not there for that conversation”. (BBC)
• Removed from a council panel: Ms Stephenson was also dismissed as chair of the council’s Independent Remuneration Panel. (BBC)
• Green walkout: on one occasion Green Party councillors walked out of the chamber while the women were speaking, and on another they held up placards. (BBC)

How a question became a ban

At the time the council was led by Green councillor Tony Dyer. In September 2025, several Green councillors walked out of a meeting, accusing members of the public of making offensive remarks. At the November meeting, Dr Beedell asked Mr Dyer whether councillors would listen with “respect, attention and tolerance to the lawfully-expressed views of people they disagree with”. (BBC News, 14 December 2025)

Later that month the council imposed the bans, saying the women would not be allowed to attend full council for six months “as a consequence of their intimidating behaviour”. It added: “This is an approach adopted in previous situations where people have sought to intimidate elected representatives in City Hall.” (BBC News, 14 December 2025)

Mr Dyer backed his Green colleagues’ walkouts, suggesting some felt “under attack for their very existence”. A Bristol Green Party spokesperson said councillors had the right to “feel safe” at work. Dr Beedell called the ban “a massive abuse of power”, adding: “There’s no law that stops you being offended.” (BBC News, 14 December 2025)

Even Labour councillor Kaz Self, who disagreed with the campaigners, said: “As a politician I think we do need to be able to listen to opinions, even opinions that we don’t agree with.” (BBC News, 14 December 2025)

To court, and a climbdown

The women launched a judicial review in December 2025, arguing the council had breached natural justice and their rights to free expression and assembly under Articles 10 and 11 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Mr Justice Kimblin granted permission on two grounds in July. The case has now been withdrawn by consent order. (Local Government Lawyer)

In its statement the council accepted its process was “inadequate”. “Before those decisions were taken, a proportionate investigation should have been conducted,” it said. It added: “The council does not maintain, and will not repeat or rely upon, allegations that Dr Beedell or Ms Stephenson acted in a threatening, abusive, disorderly or intimidating manner towards councillors on 4 November 2025.” (BBC News, 30 October 2026)

It also said Ms Stephenson’s removal from the panel “did not constitute or follow from an adverse finding about her integrity”. It has rewritten its Trans Inclusion and Gender Identity Policy to say “people who do hold gender critical beliefs are protected from discrimination by the Equality Act 2010”. It concluded: “The Council apologises unreservedly to Ms Stephenson and Dr Beedell for the distress and any reputational harm caused.” (Local Government Lawyer)

“A tragic waste of money”

Dr Beedell said: “I was disgusted by their behaviour. It has cost the council tens of thousands pounds. We’re not intimidating or harassing anyone. We’re just standing to defend women’s rights.” The council has not said how much it is paying. (BBC News, 30 October 2026)

She added that councils “must obey the law. They must let women speak.” Ms Stephenson said she hoped City Hall would become a place “where councillors and members of the public can disagree without lawful dissent being treated as wrongdoing”. (Local Government Lawyer)

What happens next

The council’s monitoring officer will introduce an outline procedure for any future case where restrictions on public participation are considered. It must tell people the substance of the allegations, give a summary of the evidence and allow a reasonable chance to respond. Either side can go back to the Administrative Court if the settlement is not honoured. (Local Government Lawyer) The council has not said when the procedure will be in place.

Our view

This section is opinion.

Two women asked their elected councillors questions. For that they were branded intimidating, banned for six months and, in one case, stripped of a civic role, all without an investigation or a chance to answer back. Now the council admits none of it should have happened, and Bristol’s council tax payers are paying most of the women’s legal bill on top of the council’s own.

This is how free speech is lost in town halls: not by law, but by process, by councillors who would rather walk out than hear a question. We have seen the same instinct in left-wing councils taking on the St George’s flag, and at Cafcass, where a social worker says he was taken off a child’s case over pronouns.

The councillors who made these allegations owe the women, and Bristol’s council tax payers, more than a statement. Every council that bans a resident should first have to show its evidence.

FAQ

Who are Women of Wessex?

A campaign group that advocates gender-critical views and has repeatedly questioned Bristol City Council’s policies on trans rights. (BBC)

What did the Supreme Court decide?

In April 2025 its judges unanimously concluded that, under the Equality Act, a woman is defined by biological sex. (UK Supreme Court) Our report on a related ruling is here.

Who is paying the legal costs?

The council has agreed to pay 70% of the women’s legal costs, according to their solicitors, Conrathe Gardner LLP. The total has not been published. (Local Government Lawyer)

Sources

• BBC News, Hannah Miller, 30 October 2026: Apology after two women’s rights campaigners banned
• Local Government Lawyer, 30 October 2026: Council settles judicial review over decision to ban gender-critical campaigners
• BBC News, Hannah Miller and Rachel Candlin, 14 December 2025: Women in trans rights row ‘shocked’ by council ban
• UK Supreme Court: For Women Scotland Ltd v The Scottish Ministers
• Main image: Bristol City Hall, home of Bristol City Council, College Green. Photo: Nilfanion, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.